KARACHI, Sept 21: Chief Secretary Fazlur Rahman has directed all district coordination officers (DCOs) to take action against fertilizers hoarders and profiteers in order to check black-marketing of the commodity in the province.

Presiding over a meeting of provincial secretaries and DCOs in his office, he asked them to seek police help while taking action against the elements responsible for black-marketing of fertilizers. He said that the prices of fertilizers must be stabilized.

He also asked additional chief secretary, agriculture secretary and DCOs to evolve a joint strategy in collaboration with the federal finance department, State Bank and the Agriculture Development Bank to ensure a smooth supply and availability of fertilizers across the province.

Referring to the anti-polio campaign and the situation prevailing in Karachi, Ghotki, Naushehro Feroze, Qambar, Sukkur and Tando Allahyar, he ordered effective measures to be taken to eradicate the disease.

DCOs were also asked to submit their reports with the chief secretary’s office regarding issuance of passbooks of agriculture loans.

They were also asked to improve their performance with regard to the provision of potable water, health, education and other facilities to people in their respective jurisdiction.

The meeting reviewed the issues on which President Asif Ali Zardari had ordered action. The issues included implementation of the youth development programme, land grant to landless farmers, provision of low-cost houses, availability of clean drinking water to everyone, action against hoarders and profiteers, etc.—PPI